Corn and bunion shield.



N. G. LOWE: CORN AND BUNION SHIELD. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, 1918.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Mdtbozne lous formation rial NELLIE G. LOWE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

CORN AND BUNION SHIELD.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, (Mrs) NELLIE G. LOWE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corn which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to corn and bunion shields.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character adapted to relieve the pressure exerted, by the shoe, upon, not only the calbut also upon that protruding portion of the joint accompanying the formation of corns and bunions known as an exostosis.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the above mentioned character a means whereby the corn or bunion may be properly ventilated when the pad is applied thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide an appliance of the above mentioned character which is cheap to manufacture, easily. applied, and highly practical in use.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description. v

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side view of an appliance embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view'of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side view of a modified form of an appliance embodying my invention, and,

ig. 4 is an end view of the same. In the drawings, attention being called to the numeral 5 indi- Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, cates a preferably oval shaped layer of flexible material. I prefer to construct this layer from a suitable fabric, such as muslin or the like, which may be easily washed and dried but should it be desired, however, such mateas chamois or the like may be employed. A second layer of material identical with that indicated by the numeral 5 and designated by the numeral 6 is disposed upon the first mentioned layer. This second layer of material. it will be noted is of the same size and shape as the adjacent layer and that the two are stitched together at their outer edges as shown at 7. I prefer to stitch these Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Application filed January 16, 1918. Serial No. 212,105;

two layers of material together in the manner as shown but it is understood in this connection that any. form of stitchin desired may be employed. The last mentioned I layer of flexible material indicated by the and Bunion Shields, of

numeral 6 is provided relatively near one end thereof with a substantially pear-shaped opening '8. The reason for my employing'an opening of thepeculiar shape as shown will e readilyunderstood by those learned in the science of Chiropody.

When considering the fact that a corn always appears at the joint the universally accepted theory explaining this fact will be readily understood when considering a concrete example. Suppose for example one continues to wear a shoe not correctly fitted to the wearers foot and as a result of this the toes are thrown out of their natural position, causing them to slightly bend at the joints causing the joint to separate at one side thereof and impinge at the other. At the separated side of the joint as a result of the pressure of the shoe thereupon an enlargement of the bone is formed. This enlargement is known as an exostosis and as a result of the pressure exerted by the shoe upon this enlargement the callus is formed upon the external part of the toe. It is the purpose therefore, of this peculiarly shaped opening to receive in the larger part thereof part of the opening is to be placed directly over the exostosis formed at the joint.

It will be noted that the layer 5 will be stitched to the layer 6 around the opening 8 as shown at 9. Thus a pocket 10 is formed between the layers of materials 5 and 6, which pocket surrounds the opening 8 as shown. This pocket is filled with a soft material 11, preferably lambs wool. This material when confined within the pocket 10 produces a rolled edge 12 surrounding the opening 8, the function of which may be readily understood when considering the utility of the appliance.

The foregoing is common to both forms of my invention.

In considering the modified form ofmy invention it will be noted that the one thickness of material adjacent the opening 8 and indicated by the numeral 15 is provided with a plurality of small openings indicated by the numeral 16 through which a suitable ventilation of the corn may be attained. To the appliance, relatively near the opening the callus while the smaller which is being treated 8, there is stitched a band of flexible mate rial l7. lhis band may be formed of the same material as the appliance or a suitable elastic may be employed if so deslred. This band serves as a means for retaining the pad in correct position with respect to the corn by simply looping the same around the toe.

It is thought that from the foregoing description the use of the appliance and the method of constructing the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a prefered example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or" the invention or the scope of the sub joined claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

An appliance of the character described comprising a layer of flexible material, a second layer of flexible material provided with an opening, the second named layer of flexible material being provided with a second opening and disposed upon the first mentioned layer to form a pocket, the first and second named openings being taken collectively to form an irregular shaped opening, means for securing the second named layer adjacent the opening thereof to the first named layer, and a filler confined within said pocket, the filler being substantially thicker in cross section at one end than at the opposite end.

NELLIE G. LOWE. 

